2022 Crawford River Beta
By Indi Noon
Our dinner table is arguably the most versatile piece of furniture in our household. Though its primary function is as the maker intended, a place where we share a meal at least once a day, it also adapts from time to time to the role of an office space, a craftsman’s bench and recently, a student’s desk.
At the beginning of 2026, I committed myself to years of part-time study for a Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology degree. In support of my education, Dad has taken to pouring the evening’s wine blind. So now we spend twenty minutes before dinner trying to unravel the story of the wine in our glass.
Some nights the deciphering takes longer than others, depending on the variety, region, and how far from ready the meal is. Last night, while mum was preparing salmon steaks, dad placed a pale glass of white wine in front of us. Well, at least I could rule out half of the possible grape varieties by appearance alone – off to a good start!
I was reminded of springtime as I lifted the glass to my nose. One swirl and I was whisked away to a blossoming pear orchard with orbs of honeycomb suspended in the branches. There was some spice and nougat notes that presumably came from barrel maturation. Super fresh but complex too, it just smells immediately attractive. “Wow, what is that?” I said out loud but not expecting any answer. It tasted as good as the aroma promised (which is not always the case I’ve discovered). This was a delight. It had a creamy texture immediately in the mouth which gave way to a perfect balance of fresh fruit and racy acidity, then a long, graceful finish that left you wanting more.
After much discussion, we placed our bets and the wine was revealed; 2022 Crawford River Beta SBS. Although produced from predominately Sauvignon Blanc, the flavours are not overtly herbal, softened I imagine by waxy Semillon characters.
An outstanding wine we all thought and well worth the modest asking price.
Purchased from Crawford River’s online shop $37. **I see the 2022 vintage has now been replaced by the 2023 on the Crawford River website & I can’t wait to try it too!